Baird must come clean on UBS note: Foley

Labor wants Premier Mike Baird to say who from his office contacted UBS before the firm watered down a report on the NSW government's privatisation plans.

Labor says NSW Premier Mike Baird needs to say whether his office offered any "inducements" to investment bank UBS before the firm watered down a potentially damaging report on his electricity privatisation plans.

It's been reported the 14-page document titled "Bad for the budget, good for the state" was sent to investors this week but quickly reissued with a title simply saying "Good for the state".

The reissue also included an addendum outlining "additional benefits to the state" generated by the planned 49 per cent lease of poles and wires.

Mr Baird has admitted his office called UBS, which is also advising the state government on its privatisation plans, with complaints about the report but claims the bank was going to revise the document anyway.

Labor Leader Luke Foley says the premier has serious questions to answer.

"Were inducements made? Was pressure brought to bear? There's many questions to be answered here," he told reporters on Thursday.

"What was Mr Baird's role? Did Mr Baird direct one of his people to place a call to UBS and put pressure on them to reissue their advice?"

Mr Baird denied personally directing his staff to call UBS when asked about the issue while campaigning in the Hunter.

Asked when it was that his office learned about the report and who they spoke to at the firm, the premier said the issue had been dealt with by UBS.

"The managing director of UBS made a statement on this yesterday," Mr Baird said.

"He has dealt with it. End of story."

UBS has been contacted for comment.


Share

2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world